Intermittent time switch



Dec. 3, 1957 F. w. TRUESDELL 2,315,409

INTERMITTENT TIME SWITCH Filed Dec. 30, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 V "I I N Edi lnvenror:

Francis W. Truesd ell His Arrofney Dec. 3, 1957 F. w. TRUESDELL ,8

INTERMITTENT TIME SWITCH Filed Dec. 30, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 knv entor: Francis W. TruesdeH Y His Mi'orney 5 F. w. TRUESDELL 2,815,409

INTERMITTENT TIME SWITCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I ll lllk r Invenior:

Francis W. Truesdell by. fidulfl His Artorney Dec. 3, 1957 Filed Dec. 30, 1955 llllllllil'" Fig.6

United States Patent 0 INTERMITTENT TlME SWITCH Francis W. Truesdell, Dover, N. H., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application December 30, 1955, Serial No. 556,556

12 Claims. (Cl. 200-27) The present invention relates generally to an intermittent time switch and more particularly to such a switch wherein alternate switching action is repeated for any desired number of cycles throughout the day and one of the switch positions is held but momentarily during each cycle of operation.

Such time switches, when combined with a programming switch, wherein both of the switches are actuated in response to operation of a common timing motor, have particular utility as timers for controlling oil well pumping starters, a typical application of such a combination timer in a system for controlling oil well pumping starters being shown in the copending application of Jack Sheets, Serial Number 512,939, filed June 3, 1955, entitled, Undervoltage Protecting Control System, and assigned to the same assignee as the subjectapplication.

The invention has for its primary object the provision of an intermittent time switch that may be combined with a programming timer such that the resulting structure may be as simple, compact, rugged and reliable as possible and yet be readily adapted to mass manufacture wherein low cost manufacturing techniques are utilized to the optimum extent.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such an intermittent time switch that may also be operated manually without adding to the complexity of the switch and without interfering with the operation of any associated programming timer.

In one aspect of the invention, an elongated slide is adapted to be selectively engaged by a gear forming part of the gear train of a programming timer, the slide when engaged being driven to establish one of two switch actuating positions. When the slide is disengaged from the gear, it returns to the other switch actuating position. The end of the slide which is engaged by the gear is provided with a cam section to cooperate with a portion of the main supporting plate carrying all of the timer components, such cooperation serving to easily and gradually disengage the slide from the gear. The main plate is also used to support and guide the slide, and an auxiliary plate carried by the main plate cooperates with portions of the slide to permitready manual operation of the slide from the front of the programming timer.

The overall arrangement of the parts is quite compact and readily combined with the programming switch components, each of the parts being rugged, heavy-duty members easily formed by low-cost manufacturing techniques.

The objects of the invention, together with the benefits and advantages attendant thereto, will be more readily understood upon reference to the following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention, particularly when taken in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto, in which:

Figure 1 is a. front view in elevation of a programming timer with which is combined the intermittent time switch forming the subject invention;

Figure 2 is a partial side view of a portion of the pro- 2,815,409 Patented Dec. 3, 1957 2 gramming timer, illustrating the manner in which the programmingswitch position selectors operate;

Figure 3 is a view similar to the arrangement shown in Figure 2, with the programming switch position selectors in their alternativeposition;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the rear of the time switch shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a partial back view of the time switch shown-in Figure l, and;

Figure 6 is a view alongthe-lines 66 in Figure 5.

Referring now tothe drawings, the intermittent time switch forming the subject invention has been shown in combination with a programming time switch of the type shown and claimed-in the copending application of Manning et 211., Serial No. 554,201 filed-December 20, 1955,

and entitled, Time Switch,, and assigned to the same assignee to which the subject application has been assigned. Since the programming time switch forms no part of the subject invention, it will only be described rather generally, with just enough detail to establish a setting for the subject invention, reference being made to the aforesaid Manning et al; application for a complete description thereof.

Thus, it is seen that a main supporting plate 7 is provided to carry all of the component parts of the combined time switch on which is rigidly'mounted at the bottomthereof a molded. terminal block- 8 secured to the plate by suitable'screws 9a Mounted for rotationon the" front face of plate 7 is a programming dial 11 having a 24-hour clock face 12 and a fixedpointer 13 cooperating with the clock face and a seriesof slots 14- completely surrounding the clock face.

The slots-14' are provided to receive switch position selectors 15'v which. are pivotally mounted therein, being movable to. alternate positions as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The dialv 11 has a selector supporting dial 16 mounted behind and spaced therefrom; a portion of which is seen in Figures 2 and 3, the periphery of which is notched at'11 to receive the'inner end of the selectors and thus cooperate with the main dial to support and align the selectors inproperposition.

The selectorshavethe inner and outer projections 18, 19 respectively which selectively cooperate with the inner ends of a pair of cranks 21', 22 pivotally mounted on the rear of plate 7 and having portions extending through an aperture'23 in-the plate'andcooperating with the selectors; The inner ends" of the-cranks are biased downwardly toward the selectors 15' by means of suitable springs, and as best seen in Figure 4, such biasing action causes the cranks to be biased in a clockwise direction when viewed from the rear of plate 7.

The crank 21 has been designated as the otf crank and the crank 22 has been designated as the on crank, and as seenin Figure 1-, the selectors may be moved to either'an onor'anotfposition relative to the cranks. In the on position, which is shown in Figure 2, the selector contacts the on crank as it moves relative thereto to raise this crank and thus perform a switching operation. In a like manner, the selectors in the position shown in Figure 3 cooperate with the ofi crank 21 to raise it and perform aswitching operation.

As best seen in Figure 4', a switch 24 in the form of a pair of cantilever spring blades having suitable electrical contacts thereon is suitably mounted on the terminalblock such that its free ends 24a and 24b cooperate with a pair of closely spaced relatively movable slides 25, 26. The ends 24a and 2'4b are intended to be confined within" the notches 26a and 25b respectively such that reciprocal motion of the-slides will cause reciprocal motion of the contacts to effect switching operations.

The slides 25, 26 are supported and guided for reciprocal motion by means of a plurality of grooved posts 27 provided on the rear of plate 7. The switch blades bias the slides to the left, as viewed in Figure 4, in which position they are aligned and the switch 24 is open. To move the slides from their normally biased position, a driving arm 28 is pivotally mounted on slide 25, a portion of its shaft 31 extending through the slide 25 and lying within a notch 32 provided in the slide 26. The arm 28 is biased upwardly and normally extends along the upper edge of slide 25 when the switch 24 is in the off position.

When a selector set in the on position contacts the on crank 22, it will cause the crank to drive the arm 28 to the right as shown in Figure 4, carrying with it both of the slides. As it moves to the right, the oif crank 21 which has a transversely extending pawl 29, drops ofl of the cam 33 aflixed to slide 26, to disengage the driving arm from the on crank and at the same time hold the slide 26 at a distance from its normal position established by the biasing action of switch 24. Since the slide 25 is cut out along its upper edge at 34, it will not be held by the pawl 29, and will move back to its original position. The two slides will thus be out of alignment and this relative motion between them will serve to close the contacts and thus place the switch in the on position. To open the contacts and restore the switch to the off position, it is only necessary for one of the selectors set in the off position to contact the off crank 21 and lift the pawl 29, upon which the slide 26 will return to its original position wherein the switch is off. At the same time, the driving arm 28 will move back to its normal position ready to be engaged by the next succeeding actuation of on crank 22.

As is shown in Figure 1, the driving arm 28 has an offset extension 35 formed at its outer end extending through an aperture 36 provided within the plate. This extension is intended to cooperate with a suitable omitting device (not shown) for selectively de-activating the switch for any desired day or days in the switching cycle.

Additionally, an indicator arm 37 is pivotally mounted on the slide 26 and has its pivot shaft formed to cooperate with a slot in slide 25 to effect a rocking motion of the arm upon relative motion of the slides. This rocking motion causes the outer end of the indicator arm to move between the onofl position shown at the upper and lower edges of a slot 38 provided in the plate 7 through which the position of the indicator arm 37 may be observed.

All of the above switch actuation is in response to the continuous operation of a timing motor, shown diagrammatically in Figure 4 as the element 39, intended to be mounted on the rear of plate 7 having its driving pinion 41 extending through a suitable aperture 42 provided in the plate.

So far, the portion of the switch described forms a part of the time switch shown and claimed in the aforesaid Manning et al. application. Cooperating with this portion of the combined timer, is the intermittent time switch forming the subject invention, which includes the electrical switch 42, having a pair of cantilever spring blades 43, 44 on the outer end of which are mounted corresponding electrical contacts 45, together with the mounting and actuating mechanism therefor.

Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6, the slides 25, 26 have corresponding notches 46 to provide clearance for the outer ends of switch 42, and the ends of these blades are adapted to be engaged by a pin 47 extending outwardly from the pivotally mounted crank member 48. Crank 48 has a fiat section 49 contiguous to a notched portion 51 of the vertically extending slide 52. This-slide is intended to reciprocate vertically, as'will be more fully explained hereinafter, and as it reciprocates, it will cause pivotal motion of crank 48 which in turn will cause selective opening and closing of contacts 45. Slide 52'has its upper end in the form of a wedge-shaped projection'53 having the inclined cam surface 54 facing the rear of plate 7. The plate is provided with an elongated aperture 55 contiguous to the wedge 53 and through which a portion of the Wedge projects at all positions of slide 52..

Contiguous to the lower portion of slide 52, there is another elongated notch 56 provided in the plate through which the projecting end of the slide extends and which terminates in the hook-like portion 57 extending through a slot 58 provided in an auxiliary supporting plate 59 mounted at the front of plate 7 and spaced therefrom. Portion 57 is intended to be grasped for manual operation of switch 42, and the slots 56 and 58 serve to support and guide the slide 52, the upper and lower edges of slot 58 serving as fixed stops limiting the reciprocal motion of the slide when it is being manually manip ulated.

Mounted between the plates '7 and 59 is the gear train 61 provided to drive the programming dial it, including a gear 62 having an aperture 63 extending transversely therethrough. A spring 64 having one end ailixed to one of the posts 27 has its other end afiixed to the wedgeshaped end 53 to bias this end against the inner face of gear 62. Providing additional biasing action on the slide 52, at right angles to the action provided by spring 64, is the spring blade 44 which normally urges the slide upwardly against the stop limiting travel in this direction.

With the parts shown in the position of Figure 5, it is seen that the contacts 45 are open and will remain open until the aperture 63 is in alignment with the outer tip of the wedge-shaped portion 53. When these parts are so aligned, the biasing action on the wedge-shaped end will cause it to move into the aperture 63 such that the slide will be engaged by the gear 62 and be driven there by. Continued rotation of gear 63 in the same direction will drive the slide downwardly and since the slide is notched around the flat section of crank 48, it will rotate this crank causing the pin 47 to move the blade 44 in a contact closing direction. After the contacts 45 have closed and upon continued rotation of gear 62, the wedge-shaped end 53 will move out of the aperture 63 because of the camming action derived through the cooperation of cam surface 54 with the edge of the plate 7 extending along the bottom of aperture 55. The wedgeshaped portion will thus easily and gradually move out of the aperture 63, reaching a point where the slide will be disengaged from the gear and then returned to its upper position by virtue of the biasing action furnished by spring blade 44. When this occurs, the contacts 45 will open, the fixed stop member 65 being added to restrain blade 43 to permit the contacts to open. Blade 43 is biased toward blade 44 and therefore the stop 65 is necessary to permit proper switch actuation.

From the above, it is seen that the contacts of switch 42 are open until the gear 62 reaches a first predetermined angular position with respect to the wedge-shaped end of the slide. When this predetermined angular position is reached, the slide will be engaged by the gear and then moved sufficiently to close the contacts. However, the contacts will remain closed only momentarily, since continued rotation of gear 62 causes the slide to be disengaged therefrom.

Thus, the switch 42 is intermittently operated and its contacts are momentarily closed. In the embodiment illustrated, the parts are arranged to have contact closure for about six seconds for every four minutes operation of the timing motor.

If it is ever desired to manually open or close switch 42, the outer projection 57 extending through auxiliary plate 59 may be easily grasped for such manipulation. In such event, the upper and lower edges of slot 58 serve as stops limiting motion of the slide.

It is seen that all of the parts forming the intermittent time switch may be of a rugged design and may be easily formed by low cost manufacturing techniques. Moreover, the overall. arrangement: of: the switch isv quite compact, and readily fits into the. limited space available in the particular program timer with which it has been combined; In addition, and because of the novel manner in which the actuating mechanism. of the switch is arranged, the actuation of this switch is achieved. through the simple expedient of providing an aperture in. one of the gears formingthe gear train driving the programming dial.

In the form illustrated, the crank 48'may be formed of a: suitable insulating material and' the slide 52 may be formed of a similar material.

The various partsforming theintermittent timing switch may be readily assembled: to the combined timer and if desired, can be connected into the same circuit as the programming; switch to suitably modify the control action of the programming switch.

Therefore, while a particular embodiment of the subject invention has been shown and described herein, it is in. the nature of description rather than limitation, and it will occur to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, and combinations may be made within the province of the appended claims, and without departing either in spirit or scope from this invention in its broader aspects.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An intermittent time switch comprising, in combination: an electrical switch including a pair of relatively movable contacts, a timing motor, a first rotatably mounted. member adapted to be continuously driven by said motor, said first member having an aperture therein, and a. second movably mounted member having a portion thereofQadapted' to move in and out of. said aperture, said switch having first and second switch positions in response to movement of said second member, said second member having a first position when said portion is out of said aperture to establish said first switch position, said first member driving said second member to a second position when said portion is in said aperture to establish said second switch position; said portion moving out of said aperture when said second member has been driven a predetermined time to allow said second member to return to said first position.

2. An intermittent time switch comprising, in combination: an electrical switch including a pair of relatively movable contacts, a timing motor, a first rotatably mounted member adapted to be continuously driven by said motor, said first member having an aperture therein, and a second movably mounted member having a portion thereof adapted to move in and out of said aperture, said switch having first and second switch positions in response to movement of said second member, said second member having a first position when said portion is out of said aperture to establish said first switch position, said first member driving said second member to a second position when said portion is in said aperture to establish said second switch position; said portion moving out of said aperture when said second member has been driven a predetermined interval of time prior to the time when said portion moves out of said aperture.

3. An intermittent time switch comprising, in combination: an electrical switch including a pair of relatively movable contacts, a timing motor, a first rotatably mounted member adapted to be continuously driven by said motor, said first member having an aperture therein, and a second movably mounted member adapted to move in a first direction and having a portion thereof adapted to move in and out of said aperture, said portion moving substantially at right angles to said first direction when it is moving in and out of said aperture, said switch having first and second switch positions in response to movement of said second member in said first direction, said second member having a first position when said portion is out of said aperture to establish said first switch position, said, first member driving said second member in said first; direction to. a second position when said portion is in said aperture to establish said second switch position, said portion moving out of said aperture when said second member has been driven a predetermined time to allow said second member to return to said first position, said second switch position being established a predetermined interval of time prior to the time when said portion moves out of said aperture.

4. An intermittent time switch comprising, in combination: an electrical switch including a pair of relatively movable contacts, a timing motor, a first rotatably mounted member adapted to be continuously driven by said timing motor, said first member having an aperture therein, and a second movably mounted member having a first position whereby a portion thereof is contiguous to said first member, said second member being adapted to move in both a first and a second direction, said first direction being at right angles to said second direction, said first'direction being at right angles to said second direction and in a direction whereby said portion may move toward said first member, said switch having first and second switching positions in response to motion of said second member in said second direction, said second member establishing a first switch position when it is in said first position, said portion moving into said aperture when said first member is in a predetermined position, said first member driving said second member in said second direction to a second position when said portion is in said aperture to establish said second switch position, said portion. moving out of said aperture when said second member has been driven a predetermined time to allow said second member to return to said first position, said second switch position being established a predetermined interval of time prior to the time when said portion moves out of said aperture.

5. An intermittent time switch comprising, in combination: an electrical switch including a pair of relatively movable contacts, a timing motor, a first rotatably mounted member adapted to be continuously driven by said motor, and a second movably mounted member adapted to move between first and second positions in a first direction and having a portion thereof contiguous to said first member, said portion being normally urged toward said first member in a direction at right angles to said first direction, said switch having first and second switch positions in response to movement of said second member in said first direction, said first member engaging said portion when said second member is in said first position and said first member is in a first angular position, said first member driving said second member in said first direction when said portion is engaged, said second member moving when driven to said second position to establish said second switch position, said portion being disengaged from said first member when said first member has moved to a second angular position, said second member returning to said first position when said portion is disengaged to establish said first switch position.

6. An intermittent time switch comprising, in combination: an electrical switch including a pair of electrical contacts, a timing motor, a first rotatably mounted member adapted to be continuously driven by said motor, a second movably mounted member adapted to move between first and second positions in a first direction and having a portion thereof contiguous to said first member, said second member being normally urged to said first position, said portion being normally urged toward said first member in a direction .at right angles to said first direction, said switch having first and second switch positions in response to movement of said second member in said first direction, said first member engaging said portion when said second member is in said first position and said first member is in a first angular position, said first member driving said second member in said first direction when said portion is engaged, said second member moving when driven to said second position to establish said second switch position, said portion being disengaged from said first member when said first member has moved to a second angular position, said second switch position being established a predetermined interval of time prior to disengagement of said portion, said second member returning to said first position when said portion is disengaged to establish said first switch position.

7. An intermittent time switch as defined in claim 6 wherein said portion has an inclined cam surface cooperating with a fixed abutment to gradually move said portion away from said first member in the direction of disengagement When said first member is driving said second member.

8. An intermittent time switch as defined in claim 7 wherein all of the aforesaid parts of the time switch are mounted on a main support plate, said plate extending between said first and second members and having a first aperture through which said portion projects, said fixed abutment comprising an edge of said plate surrounding said aperture, and said second member is in the form of an elongated slide having one of its ends forming said portion, the other end of said second member extending through a second aperture in said plate, said other end of said second member projecting outwardly from said plate to permit manual movement of said slide.

9. An intermittent time switch as defined in claim 8 wherein said first member is provided with an aperture, said portion moving into said aperture when said first member is in said first angular position whereby it is engaged by said first member, said portion moving out of said aperture to disengage it from said first member.

10. An intermittent time switch as defined in claim 9 wherein an auxiliary support plate is mounted on said main support plate and spaced therefrom, said first member extending between said plates, said auxiliary plate having an aperture through which projects said manually manipulatable end of said slide, opposite edges of said auxiliary plate surrounding said aperture comprising stops limiting motion of said slide when it is being manually manipulated.

11. An intermittent time switch as defined in claim 10 wherein said switch includes a pair of spaced cantilever spring blades on which said contacts are mounted, said blades extending in said first direction, said blades being coupled to said slide by a pivotally mounted crank having a first portion contiguous to a notched portion of said slide .and having a second portion contiguous to one of said spring blades.

12. An intermittent time switch as defined in claim 11 wherein a spring member is anchored to said plate and has its outer end affixed to said portion for urging said portion toward said first member, said one of said spring blades functioning to urge said second member to its first position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,495,020 Hall May 20, 1924 1,831,605 Porter Nov. 10, 1931 1,969,293 Bissell Aug. 7, 1934 2,057,186 Freeberg Oct. 13, 1936 2,236,299 Reid Mar. 25, 1941 2,538,315 Keefer Jan. 16, 1951 2,540,605 Bergman Feb. 6, 1951 2,605,753 Madle Aug. 5, 1952 2,609,434 Diebold Sept. 2, 1952 2,656,497 Schweighofer et al. Oct. 20, 1953 

